At BestStart Hokowhitu, we are proud of our Set for School approach and the way it is woven throughout our curriculum across all three of our rooms — Tūī, Pihipihi and Kererū.
For us, being “set for school” is not something that suddenly begins when a child enters the preschool room.
It is a journey that begins from infancy, with each stage building on the learning, skills and confidence developed before it. Our three rooms work collaboratively to create a shared pathway for tamariki. You will see this reflected in the Set for School visual displays in each classroom, which connect with one another and show how skills progressively develop as children move through our centre.
The skills we focus on in Tūī provide foundations for the learning that takes place in Pihipihi, which then prepares tamariki for the more intentional school-readiness focus in Kererū. Building the foundations In our infant room, Tūī, tamariki are beginning to develop the foundations that will support them throughout their learning journey. Through secure relationships, exploration, movement, communication and developing independence, our youngest tamariki are beginning to build the confidence and dispositions they will carry with them as they grow. As tamariki move into Pihipihi, these foundations continue to grow.
We focus on skills such as:
- I am learning to gain control over my body and developing coordination and confidence to take risks.
- I am learning to ask questions and learning through discovery. I am learning to regulate myself and understand when I need space from others.
- I am learning to use my words to communicate my ideas, needs and feelings.
These might seem like simple everyday skills, but they are incredibly important foundations for later learning. A child who is learning to communicate, regulate their emotions, navigate relationships, take safe risks and persist with new challenges is developing the skills they will eventually draw upon when they enter school. By the time tamariki transition into our Kererū preschool room, they have already developed a strong foundation to build upon.
Growing towards school In Kererū, our Set for School focus becomes more intentional as tamariki begin preparing for their next big transition. We continue to build on the skills they have been developing since infancy while introducing and strengthening skills that align with the expectations of our local primary schools.
For us, being “set for school” might look like:
- I can recognise the letters in my name.
- I can put things back where they belong.
- I can sit on the mat and listen to the teacher.
- I can count and recognise numbers.
- I can use my words to express my feelings.
- I can follow instructions.
- I can stay focused and engaged with a task.
- I can show respect to others.
Tamariki develop these skills through our localised curriculum, everyday routines, relationships, play, intentional teaching and the environment we create around them. Our classroom is intentionally set up to encourage independence, responsibility and confidence. Tamariki have opportunities to make choices, care for their environment, solve problems, communicate with others, participate in group experiences, practise early literacy and numeracy, manage their belongings and take increasing responsibility for themselves and the people around them.
Our Set for School wall display is an important part of making this learning visible. Each month, we select a particular focus area for tamariki to work towards. This gives us an opportunity to intentionally revisit and practise particular skills rather than trying to focus on everything at once. It also helps us to notice where individual tamariki may need additional support. By observing how children engage with each focus, we can identify areas where a child may benefit from further opportunities, intentional teaching or additional scaffolding.
This information can then feed into individual learning plans and help us ensure that our teaching is responsive to the needs of each child. It is not about every child reaching every milestone at exactly the same time. Instead, it is about knowing where each child is on their journey and considering what we can do next to support their learning and growing independence.
Our Set for School journey is also strengthened through our relationships with our local school community. We value knowing what our local primary schools are looking for and understanding the skills, knowledge and dispositions that help tamariki make a confident transition into school. We also recognise that starting school is a significant transition for whānau, not just for the child.
At BestStart Hokowhitu, we host a Set for School Parent Evening, bringing together a panel of primary school kaiako and parents from different schools within our local community. This provides whānau with the opportunity to ask questions, hear different perspectives and gain a better understanding of what starting school can look like. It is also an opportunity for parents to support one another — parents educating and supporting parents.
Choosing a school can come with many questions, and we want our whānau to feel informed, confident and supported as they make decisions about their child's next step. In conclusion, our Set for School approach is about giving tamariki the foundations, skills and dispositions to confidently take their next steps as learners — while recognising that every child develops in their own way and at their own pace.
From Tūī, to Pihipihi, to Kererū, we are all part of the same journey building confident, capable and curious learners, one step at a time.